Reaping

rep'-ing (qatsar; therizo): Reaping in ancient times, as at present, consisted in either pulling up the grain by the roots or cutting it with a sickle (see SICKLE), and then binding the stalks into bundles to be carried to the threshing-floor. If the Egyptian sculptures are true to life, reaping was sometimes divided into two operations, the heads of grain and the stalks being reaped separately. In Palestine and Syria both pulling and cutting are still practiced, the former when the ground is stony and the spears scarce. Even where the sickle is used, much of the grain comes up by the roots, owing to the toughness of the dried stalks or the dullness of the sickle. The reaper sometimes wears pieces of cane on the fingers of the hand which gathers the grain in order to protect them from injury by the sharp grasses or the sickle. There were definite laws established by the Hebrews in regard to reaping (Le 19:9; 23:10; 25:5,11; De 16:9). Samuel mentions the task of reaping the harvest as one of the requirements which would be made by the king for whom the people were clamoring (1Sa 8:12).

Figurative:

The certainty of the consequences of good and evil doing were often typified by the sowing and the reaping of harvests (Job 4:8; Pr 22:8; Ho 8:7; 10:12,13; 2Co 9:6; Ga 6:7,8). "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" is found in the liberated captives' song (Ps 126:5). "He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap," i.e. a lack of faith in God's care will be punished (Ec 11:4); compare also the lesson of trust drawn from the birds (Mt 6:26; Lu 12:24). Sowing and not reaping the harvest is mentioned as a punishment for disobedience (Job 31:8; Jer 12:13; Mic 6:15). Reaping where he sowed not, showed the injustice of the landlord (Mt 25:26), as did also the withholding of the reapers' wages (Jas 5:4). In God's Kingdom there is a division of labor: "He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (Joh 4:36-38). In John's vision he saw an angel reap the earth (Re 14:15,16).

See AGRICULTURE; GLEANING.

James A. Patch

• → General scriptures concerning Ps 129:7
• → The ark of the covenant returned by the Philistines at the time of 1Sa 6:13
• → Laws concerning gleaning at the time of
  • See GLEANING
• → FIGURATIVE Ps 126:6; Ho 10:12,13

• Is the cutting of the corn in harvest Job 24:6; Le 23:10
• The sickle used for De 16:9; Mr 4:29
• Both men and women engaged in Ru 2:8,9
• THE JEWS NOT TO REAP
  • The corners of their fields Le 19:9; 23:22
  • During the Sabbatical year Le 25:5
  • During the year of jubilee Le 25:11
  • The fields of others De 23:25
• Mode of gathering the corn for, alluded to Ps 129:7; Isa 17:5
• Corn after, was bound up into sheaves Ge 37:7; Ps 129:7
• PERSONS ENGAGED IN
  • Under the guidance of a steward Ru 2:5,6
  • Visited by the master Ru 2:4; 2Ki 4:18
  • Fed by the master who himself presided at their meals Ru 2:14
  • Received wages Joh 4:36; Jas 5:4
• A time of great rejoicing Ps 126:5,6
• The Jews often hindered from, on account of their sins Mic 6:15
• Often unprofitable on account of sin Jer 12:13
• ILLUSTRATIVE OF
  • Receiving the reward of wickedness Job 4:8; Pr 22:8; Ho 8:7; Ga 6:8
  • Receiving the reward of righteousness Ho 10:12; Ga 6:8,9
  • Ministers receiving temporal provision for spiritual labours 1Co 9:11
  • Gathering in souls to God Joh 4:38
  • The judgments of God on the antichristian world Re 14:14-16
  • The final judgment Mt 13:30,39-43